Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson breaks NFL record in loss to Falcons WITH VIDEO

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81), defended by Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson (23), prepares to make a 20-yard reception during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

DETROIT -- When Calvin Johnson caught a 49-yard pass in the first quarter on Saturday night, the energy at Ford Field cranked up.

"I can't even lie, I was like we knocked off a big chunk of it right there,'' the Detroit Lions wide receiver said.

Entering the game Johnson needed 182 yards to break the NFL single season receiving yards record set by Jerry Rice with 1,848 yards in 1995.

When it was over -- the Atlanta Falcons won 31-18 -- Johnson had his second-best career game ever with 11 catches for 225 yards.

Advertisement

It was the Lions (4-11) seventh straight loss, but Calvin Johnson was the story.

The always-humble man known as Megatron now has 1,892 receiving yards with one game remaining. He needs just 108 yards to reach the coveted 2,000-yard mark.

He broke the record on a 26-yard catch in the fourth quarter on a route that had been run earlier without success.

"Called the same route again and just bounced it around them, like the coach told me, the biggest thing I was like see the ball, see the ball,'' Johnson said.

"The guys were telling me on the sideline I'm like 4 or 5 yards away,'' Johnson said. "It's like one reception and I'm there, so I'm like shoot let's go in and knock this thing out,'' Johnson said.

And so he did.

He and quarterback Matthew Stafford grabbed helmets and celebrated briefly on the field.

"I just told him congrats,'' Stafford said. "It was unreal, it was fun to watch.''

Johnson brought the football to his dad on the sidelines.

"I don't think I said anything to my dad when I gave him the ball I just gave him a hug,'' Johnson said. "When I think back on it, it was a special moment.''

Is the ball going to the Hall of Fame?

"Oh no, that's my ball,'' Johnson said.

He wasn't sure that Saturday would be the record-breaking night.

Johnson gave credit to Stafford.

"It's half his too you know, he's the one delivering me the ball every week,'' Johnson said. "When we both stay healthy man we can do some special things out there.''

Stafford threw for 443 yards in the loss including an interception by Atlanta's Asante Samuel on a ball intended for Johnson that would have broken the record.

"The guy's the best in my mind. Like I said the height, weight, speed, all that goes out the window,'' Stafford said. "Just the way he prepares, the way he works nobody goes about his business as professionally as he does. We're lucky to have a guy like that play a position that not all the time is like that. He sets the standard in the league, it's a high bar.''

Coach Jim Schwartz said he'd been an NFL fan all his life and seen many good players in his 19 years of coaching.

I've never seen a better player than Calvin Johnson,'' Schwartz said "I'll say what I said when we signed him in the spring -- we signed him to the contract extension. As good a player as you see on the field, he's a better person. He's a better teammate. When you talk about the history of the National Football League there's a lot of respect that goes into that.

Johnson broke other records on Saturday too.

On the same record-breaking 26-yard catch, Johnson also set an NFL record for his fourth straight 10-catch game.

When he went over the 100-yard mark Saturday night he set an NFL record with eight consecutive games of 100-plus yards. He also tied Michael Irvin for the NFL record of 11 100-yard receiving games in a season.

Johnson set a Lions franchise record for most receiving yards in a season on his second catch of the night -- a 49-yard pass play from quarterback Matthew Stafford. He surpassed Herman Moore who set the record of 1,686 yards in 1995.

The record would have meant more if the Lions had pulled out the win.

It's the first time the Lions have lost seven straight since the 2008 season when they were 0-16.

Three turnovers -- two fumbles and an interception -- were too much for the Lions to overcome.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was 25 of 32 for 279 yards and four touchdowns.

It added a bittersweet touch to the game for Johnson who addressed his teammates afterward.

"You know Calvin, he didn't say a whole lot,'' Stafford said. "But he told us he appreciated our hard work and our help to get him there and he thought it was a team thing -- exactly what you would think Calvin Johnson would say is what he said and I'm just proud to be associated with him.''